A MAN in his 80s was found dead in his home after it was destroyed by a fire yesterday afternoon.
The man lived alone in the cottage at Corderry, near Louth village.
A neighbour raised the alarm around 2 p.m. and units from Dundalk and Ardee fire brigades went to the scene.
Gardai had not released the man's name last night. His body was taken to the Louth County Hospital and a forensic examination will take place of the scene of the fire later today.
Meanwhile, gardai in Drogheda have appealed for witnesses to a serious hit and run accident on the main Dublin to Belfast road early yesterday morning.
A 24 year old man from Williamstown was struck by a car that failed to stop at Kilsaran outside Castlebellingham just after 3 a.m.
Gardai said they believed the left hand side of the car would have been badly damaged by the impact.
The injured man was last night in a serious condition and on a life support machine in the Beaumont Hospital.
Gardai want anyone who saw the accident or has information on it to contact them at 041-38777.